Model stop-go traffic light



g- 4, 1964 R. E. DAVIS, JR 3,143,721

MODEL STOP-GO TRAFFIC LIGHT Filed June 18, 1962 f a; 531%.? INVENTOR.

W 5. ibamqeh.

United States Patent 3,143,721 MODEL STQP-GO TRAFFHJ LIGHT Robert E.Davis, Jr., Wallingford, Conn, assignor to The A. C. Gilbert Company,New Haven, Conn, a corporation of Maryland Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No.203,073 12 Claims. (*Cl. 34084) This invention relates to an operativereplica in miniature size of stop-go trafiic lights as commonly used atroad or street intersections.

Such devices comprise a box suspended over or supported on a post atroad intersections containing at least red and green light projectingwindows in side walls of the box that face in predetermined directionsaligned respectively with two or more roads or streets that meet at theintersection.

An object of the invention is to solve problems arising from thescarcity of space for a source of illumination in a very miniaturestructure by reducing the number and size of electric lamps required toilluminate in segregated groups as many as four light projecting windowsat one time so as to display a red light in one or both directions totrafiic approaching the intersection along one street and simultaneouslydisplay a green light in one or both directions to trafiic approachingthe intersection on an intersecting or cross street.

Another object is to change the colors of light so directed toward eachof such streets from red to green and vice versa by the alternatelighting and extinguishment of only two electric lamps, either of whichwill be lighted when the other lamp is extinguished. The presentimprovemnets accomplish this by merely shifting current from the circuitof one lamp to the circuit of the other lamp thus requiring for remotecontrol only a simple, double-throw, electric switch. This eliminatesthe need of moving parts or electrical components in addition to thelamps themselves within the signal box.

A related object is to make a miniature signal box of easily separatedmolded plastic parts which can be snapped together and taken apart bysimple finger manipulation without the use of tools when lamp bulbs needservicing or replacement.

These and other objects of the invention will appear in fuller detail inconnection with the following description of a simple embodiment of theinvention having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the signal box showing its top wall partiallybroken away to expose the contours of the interior construction.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in section on the plane 22 in FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in section on the plane 3-3 in each of FIGS. 1and 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one section of the signal box.

FIG. 5 is a similar view of the companion section of the signal box.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the projections of colored light from thebox when one of the lamps is lighted and the other lamp extinguished.

FIG. 7 is a corresponding diagram of changed projection of colored lightfrom the box when the said other lamp is lighted and the first mentionedlamp is extinguished.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 the signal box 12 is shown to comprise acasing having two U-shaped sections 13 and 14, one of which sectionsprovides the top wall 15 of the box and the other of which sectionsprovides the bottom wall 16 of the box. The box section 14 has lugs 17projecting inward from its side walls at a short distance above thebottom wall 16 and the box section 13 has four 3,143,721 Patented Aug.4, 1964 ice corresponding lugs 18 which interlock with lugs 17 when thetwo sections are placed together. This is possible because of theresilience of the plastic material of which box section 13 is made whichenables the side walls to spring apart sufficiently to permit the endsof lugs 1% to pass the ends of lugs 17 and then snap into interlockingrelation therewith so as to occupy the space between lugs 17 and thebottom wall of section 14.

Section 14 has its space between its side walls spanned by a lightbaflling partition 20 that extends from the top wall 15 to the bottomwall 16 of the box in a zig-zag course thus separating the box interiorinto a sealed light chamber 21 shown at the left of FIG. 2 and aseparate sealed light chamber 22 shown at the right of FIG. 2. These twochambers are isolated from each other by the partition 20 in a manner toprevent transfer of light therebetween. Each chamber extends from thetop wall 15 to the bottom wall 16 of the box. The partition 20 betweenthe chambers is contoured to form a nipple-like light transmittingconduit 23 leading from chamber 22 to the box Window 24 and to form alike nipple or conduit 25 extending across chamber 22 to the box window26. All of the other box Windows 32 to 37, inclusive, are located in therelationship shown in the drawings. Windows 32, 36 and 37 give out lightonly from chamber 22, while windows 33, 34 and 35 give out light onlyfrom chamber 21.

The source of illumination inside of signal box 12 as illustrated hereincomprises two miniature electric lamp bulbs 42 and 43, the former ofwhich illuminates chamber 22 and transmits light through nipple 23 towindow 24. All light from lamp 42 is excluded from chamber 21 becausethe end of nipple 23 abuts against a light filtering pane 44 of redtransparent plastic whose margin is nested in a counterbore of window24. In like manner light from the other lamp 43 is excluded from chamber22 because the ends of nipple 25 abut against a light filtering pane ofgreen transparent plastic 45 whose margin is nested in a counterbore ofwindow 26. Each lamp need consist only of an exhausted miniature glassbulb containing the filament and in which are embedded the two insulatedwires 53, 54 or 55, 56 that conduct current to the lamp.

FIG. 8 shows that current can be supplied to either lamp alone, andsimultaneously cut oh from the other lamp, by merely throwing the remotecontrol electric switch 52 from full line to broken line position whichwill shift current from a supply line 57 to the desired lamp for propertrafiic control.

Each of the eight windows is covered respectively by light filters like44 and 45 whose colors are indicated by vertical lines for the color redand diagonal lines for the color green. It will thus be seen from thedrawing that when lamp 42 alone is in circuit, light will be projectedas indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6 from only the two red windows 24and 32 in the upper level of the box and simultaneously from the twogreen windows 36 and 37 in the lower level. However when switch 52 isthrown to reverse position the signal lighting will be changed so thatlight is projected as shown in FIG. 7 from only the two red windows 34and 35 in the upper level of the box and simultaneously from the twogreen Windows 26 and 33 in the lower level. The lighting condition inFIG. 6 signals traffic to move in both directions on the east-westoriented street or road and to stop in both directions on thenorth-south oriented cross street or road. In FIG. 7 the lightingcondition has been changed to permit traflic flow in both directions onthe north-south oriented street and to signal trafic to stop on theeast-west oriented street or road. Arrows indicating projected lightsand also points of the compass are designated as usual N for North, Sfor South, W for West and E for East. In FIGS. 6 and 7 those windowswhich are projecting no light are darkened by stippling.

The open notch in the free end of the forked brackets 58 and 59 may beof size and shape to enable the twisted and individually insulated stiffelectric wires 53, 54 or 55, 56 to wedge firmly but removably thereinwhereby to hold the lamp bulbs 42 and 43 steadily in line with the lighttransmitting nipples 23 and 25. The internal surfaces of the box thatenclose the chambers 21 and 22 are preferably colored brilliant white orsilver to make all surfaces bounding the chambers a source of reflectedlight. This will occur even more effectively because of the extremelysmall size of the signal box whose outside dimensions to accord withmodel traffic systems need not be greater than 1%" high by square incross section. The importance of these improved features of constructionin making an operative traific signal light in such tiny size will beevident.

The signal box may be supported in any appropriate manner as by holdingengagement of the recessed opening in the top wall with the open end ofa downward directed supporting conduit (not shown) through which may bethreaded the insulated electric wires 53, 54, 55 and 56. Such conduitwill seal the top opening against escape of light.

With reference to the wording of certain of the following claims it willbe understood that in the illustrative embodiment of the invention nowdescribed, three windows 32, 34 and 35 are in the same chamber 22 in theupper portion of the box and constitute three windows of a group of fourwindows 24, 32, 34 and 35 which three windows are on an opposite side ofpartition from the fourth window 24, and in like manner three windows,33, 36 and 37 are in a common chamber 21 in the lower portion of the boxand constitute three windows of a group of four windows 26, 33, 36 and37 which three windows are on an opposite side of partition 20 from thefourth window 26.

Many departures from this precise number and arrangement of windows inrelation to the box sides and to the partition 20 can evidently be madewithin the principles of these improvements and all such that comewithin the definitions of the claims are intended to be within thecoverage of the solicited patent.

What is claimed is:

1. A model stop-go changeable trafiic light comprising a box havingopaque side walls and an opaque partition extending upward and downwardbetween two of said side walls in a manner to divide the interior ofsaid box into two laterally adjacent chambers isolated by said partitionagainst transmission of light therebetween, each of said chambersincluding and occupying both an upper portion and a lower portion of theinterior of said box, a separate electric lamp bulb in each of saidchambers, at least two windows in side walls of said box which face inrespectively diiferent directions each of said windows opening outwardfrom a difierent one of said chambers, and means alternately to lightsaid lamp bulbs only one at a time.

2. A model stop-go changeable traffic light as defined in claim 1, inwhich one of the said windows is in the said upper portion of the saidbox, and the other of said windows is in the said lower portion of saidbox and both of said windows are lighted by the same lamp bulb.

3. A model stop-go changeable trafi ic light as defined in claim 1, inwhich one of the said windows is spanned by a red color filter and theother of said windows is spanned by a green color filter.

4. A model stop-go changeable trafiic light as defined in claim 2, inwhich one of the said windows is spanned by a red color filter and theother of said windows is spanned by a green color filter.

5. A model stop-go changeable traffic light comprising a box havingfirst and second pairs of side walls, the walls of said pairs beingspaced apart and facing in four different directions respectively, apartition extending from a first side wall to a second side wall of saidfirst pair in a manner to divide the interior of said box verticallyinto two chambers isolated by said partition against transmission oflight therebetween, each of said chambers occupying both an upperportion and a lower portion of said box, a separate electric lamp bulbin each of said chambers, a light projecting window in each of said sidewalls of said first pair at one side of said partition in said upperportion of said box, and a light projecting window in each of said sidewalls of said second pair on the other side of said partition in saidlower portion of said box, whereby light from either of said lamps alonecan be projected from said box simultaneously through 1 windows in theside walls of said first pair in the lower 1 portion of said box andthrough windows in the side walls of said second pair in the upperportion of said box and simultaneously bafiled by said partition fromreaching windows in other than side walls of said first and secondpairs, and remote electrical control means operative to light said lampbulbs alternately and only one at a time.

6. A model stop-go changeable traffic light comprising a box havingopaque side walls and an opaque partition extending upward and downwardbetween two of said side walls in a manner to divide the interior ofsaid box into two laterally adjacent chambers isolated by said partitionagainst transmission of light therebetween, each of said chambersincluding and occupying both an upper portion and a lower portion of theinterior of said box, a separate electric lamp bulb in each of saidchambers, at least two windows in side walls of said box which face inrespectively difierent directions each of said windows opening outwardfrom a different one of said chambers, means alternately to light saidlamp bulbs only one at a time, two additional side walls bounding thesaid two chambers respectively one on each side of the said partitionand containing the said windows respectively, together with a lighttransmitting conduit having light confining walls and an open endterminating at a first one of said windows, said conduit extendingacross a first one of said chambers and opening through said partitioninto the other of said chambers, whereby light from said other chamberis transmitted to said first window through said conduit while isolatedfrom said first chamber.

7. A model stop-go changeable traffic light as defined in claim 6, inwhich the said opaque partition has a diagonally extending portionoffsetting its upper end laterally in relation to its bottom end. I 8. Amodel stop-g0 changeable traffic light as defined in claim 6, togetherwith red color filters spanning all of the said windows in one of thesaid upper and lower portions of the said box, and filters of adilfere'nt color spanning all of the said windows in the other of saidportrons of said box.

9. A model stop-go changeable trafiic light as defined in claim 6, inwhich there is a group of four light projecting windows in four of thesaid side walls respectively all located in said upper portion of saidbox, and another group of at least four light projecting windows in fourof said side walls respectively all located in said lower portion ofsaid box, three of said windows in each of said groups of four windowsbeing on a common side of the said partition opposite the other saidcommon side.

10. A model stop-go changeable traffic light as defined in claim 9, inwhich the fourth window in each of the said groups of light projectingwindows is on a diiferent side of the said partition from the said threewindows of said group, together with a light transmitting conduitleading through said partition to each of said fourth windows from thesaid chamber on the opposite side of said partition therefrom.

11. A model stop-go changeable nafiic light as defined in claim 9, inwhich all windows in the said upper portion of the said box are spannedby red color light filters to signal stop" when illuminated, and allwindows in the said lower portion of said box are spanned by green colorlight filters to signal go when illuminated.

12. A model stop-go changeable signal light as defined in claim 9, inwhich the said box comprises two U-shaped 5 sections separablyassembled, each of said sections carrying two of the said side walls andfour of the said windows.

References Cited in the file of this patent

6. A MODEL STOP-GO CHANGEABLE TRAFFIC LIGHT COMPRISING A BOX HAVINGOPAQUE SIDE WALLS AND AN OPAQUE PARTITION EXTENDING UPWARD AND DOWNWARDBETWEEN TWO OF SAID SIDE WALLS IN A MANNER TO DIVIDE THE INTERIOR OFSAID BOX INTO TWO LATERALLY ADJACENT CHAMBERS ISOLATED BY SAID PARTITIONAGAINST TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID CHAMBERSINCLUDING AND OCCUPYING BOTH AN UPPER PORTION AND A LOWER PORTION OF THEINTERIOR OF SAID BOX, A SEPARATE ELECTRIC LAMP BULB IN EACH OF SAIDCHAMBERS, AT LEAST TWO WINDOWS IN SIDE WALLS OF SAID BOX WHICH FACE INRESPECTIVELY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS EACH OF SAID WINDOWS OPENING OUTWARDFROM A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS, MEANS ALTERNATELY TO LIGHT SAIDLAMP BULBS ONLY ONE AT A TIME, TWO ADDITIONAL SIDE WALLS BOUNDING THESAID TWO CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE SAID PARTITIONAND CONTAINING THE SAID WINDOWS RESPECTIVELY, TOGETHER WITH A LIGHTTRANSMITTING CONDUIT HAVING LIGHT CONFINING WALLS AND AN OPEN ENDTERMINATING AT A FIRST ONE OF SAID WINDOWS, SAID CONDUIT EXTENDINGACROSS A FIRST ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS AND OPENING THROUGH SAID PARTITIONINTO THE OTHER OF SAID CHAMBERS, WHEREBY LIGHT FROM SAID OTHER CHAMBERIS TRANSMITTED TO SAID FIRST WINDOW THROUGH SAID CONDUIT WHILE ISOLATEDFROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER.